Nonleak,nonspillable bottle cap



April 22, 1969 EVRAS 3,439,846

NONLEAK, NONSPILLABLE BOTTLE CAP Filed June 26, 1967 Jm/aztor UnitedStates Patent 3,439,846 NONLEAK, NONSPILLABLE BOTTLE CAP David J. Evras,1316 N. Main St., Oshkosh, Wis. 54901 Filed June 26, 1967, Ser. No.648,569 Int. Cl. B65d /64, 25/40, 35/38 US. Cl. 222-494 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This inventionrelates to cap assemblies for pressure discharged containers and is morespecifically related to an improvement in a pressure actuated dischargetype nozzle. The increased use of plastic or flexible containers forsuch products as liquid soap, oil, cleaning fluids, toothpaste and thelike has presented some ditficulties principally in the elimination ofwaste through spillage. Any time a cap is left off of a bottle orcontainer there is the chance that it will be turned over allowing theliquid to run out of the container. The same is also true of tubes whichare left on the counter with the caps removed.

Summary of the invention In the present invention a cap assembly havinga nonleak nozzle is secured to the spout of a container or bottle. Thenonleak nozzle is a collapsible type tube that inherently returns to acollapsed condition whenever pressure is released from the nozzle. Inthe collapsed position the nozzle will be rolled up into a recess in thecap assembly. The discharge nozzle can be formed of plastic material andcan contain a spring to increase the return bias on the nozzle. A covermay be used to close the recess so that the discharge nozzle will notunroll when pressure is applied to the container.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read in connection with the encloseddrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in section of an improved cap assembly.

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of the improved cap assembly with thetop or cover removed and the discharge nozzle shown fully extended.

FIG. 3'is a view of a modified type cap assembly having a flip-up typecap.

FIG. 4 is a projection view of the modified cap showing the cap flippedup.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, theimproved cap assembly includes a top 12 and a cover 14. The top has aninternal thread 16 which is formed to matingly engage a similar threadon a bottle or tube. Any other form of securing means such as a snap-onlip, can be provided in the top depending on the form of the spout inthe container. An opening 18 is formed near the upper central portion ofthe top and a groove 24 is provided around the inner end of the opening.A flat flexible tube 20 is secured in the opening 18 by inserting lip 22on the end of the tube into groove 24. An adhesive may be used to securethe lip in the groove or the groove squeezed tightly against the lip.Suflicient room is provided in the opening to allow the tube to roll upinto the opening when not in use. The tube will be unrolled whensuflicient pressure is applied to the tube to overcome its inherent biascausing the tube to unroll from the opening.

Cover 14 is also provided with an internal thread 26 which matinglyengages the external thread 28 on the outside of the top. The cover isscrewed tightly onto the top until it entraps the rolled up tube withinopening 18. When the cover is removed from the top as in FIG. 2 andpressure applied to the liquid to be dispensed, the liquid will causethe tube to unroll allowing for the discharge of the liquid through thetube.

The cap assembly can be used on any plastic type container that is to besqueezed to remove the liquid within the container. If a product to bedispensed has a high density, such as toothpaste, it may be necessary tomount a spring 30 within the collapsible tube to provide sulficientreturn bias to force any of the toothpaste in the tube back into thecontainer. Since the tube is relatively flat, the spring will cause thetube to roll up forcing whatever material is in the tube back into thecontainer.

In the modified arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, top 32 has a similarinternal construction as in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that an internal thread isprovided for mounting the top on a bottle or tube. An opening 34 isprovided in the top and a roll-up type discharge tube 36 mounted in theopening. The opening is made large enough to allow the tube to roll upinto the opening. The discharge tube is retained in the opening by aflip-up cover 38 that is mounted on a pivot pin 40 for pivotal motioninto groove 42. The discharge tube will roll up into the opening 34 dueto its own inherent return bias and the flip-up cover pushed into thegroove to prevent it from unrolling. A small detent button 44 isprovided on each side of the flip-up cover to seat in recess 46 providedat the end of the groove. In the operation of this type of a cover it isonly necessary to flip up the cover to release the tube and whenpressure is applied to the liquid in the container the liquid willunroll the tube allowing the liquid to be discharged.

The cap assembly has been described as being screwed onto the containerfor the liquid to be dispensed. It is also possible to mold the capassembly directly onto the container and to insert the roll-up nozzleafter the cap is formed. In pressure actuated containers it also may benecessary to include a pressure relief port in the cap with a flappertype one way valve to allow the container to expand after the containerhas been squeezed to discharge the product.

Although only two embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described it should be apparent that various changes andmodification can be made herein without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A removeable closure device which is adapted to be mounted on thethreaded discharge opening of a resilient type liquid container, saiddevice comprising:

a top having an inner threaded section and a centrally disposed opening,

a resilient discharge tube having one end sealingly secured to theopening,

said tube having an inherent return bias wherein said tube will roll upinto said opening whenever the pressure imposed on the liquid in thecontainer is less than the return bias of the tube.

2. A closure device according to claim 1 wherein said top has an outerthreaded section and including:

cover means having a threaded section corresponding to said top forpreventing the discharge tube from unrolling from the opening.

3. A closure device according to claim 1 wherein said top includes arecess and said cover means comprises a flat strip pivotally mounted formovement into and out of said recess in said top.

4. A closure device according to claim 1 including a cover means havinga cup shape to matingly engage the top to prevent the discharge tubefrom unrolling from said opening.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1938 Ring 222-494 3/1951Wolfe.

9/ 1959 Earles 222-494 X 10/1960 Winstead 222-528 X 10/ 1964 Petitto222-528 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

